Coupling.



F. 0. BALL GOUPLING. APPLIQATION Hum snmzs, 1909. 4

980,900-, Patenaumlo; 191,1;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK O. BALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFRANK H. BALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

COUPLING'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK O. BALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Couplings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

-This invention relates to couplings, and consists in certainimprovements in the construction thereof as will be hereinafter fullydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

More particularly this invention vrelates to that type of coupling usedfor coupling shafts together, the coupling having some flexibility. Thishas heretofore been accomplished by arranging a series of pinscircumferentially around one such coupling member, and a similar seriesof pins on the other clutch member', one of said series being within theother, and the rope being interlaced through said pins so that one ofsaid members may be driven by the other. Where the series of pins extendthroughout the circumference of the members, the members can only beremoved by moving one of the members in an axial direction, so that thepins on the member being removed may clear the pins on the other member.

One of the objects of this invention is to so arrange these pins as topermit of the removing of one of the members without this preliminaryaxial movement of a member.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the specification andclaims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the members with the pins ofthe other` member in section, as on the line 1 1 in Fig. 3, the figurealso including the interlocking member. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe opposite member with the pins extending from the member shown inFig. 1 in section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section throughboth members, the section being on the line'3-3 in Fig. 2.

1 marks one of the members; 2 the other member. Either of these membersmay be the driving member, and either, the driven member. A group ofpins 3 extends in an axial direction from the member 1, and a group ofpins 4 extends in an axial direc- Speccaton of Letters Patent. PatentedJ' 3,11. 10, 1911.

Application filed September 29, 1909.

Serial No. 520,072.

tion from the member 2. The pins 3 are arranged outside of the pins 4,the pins from the two members extending through the same plane,extending between the members as indicated in Fig. 3. The interlockingmember, which, according to my invention is in the form of a belt 5, isinterlaced around the pins 3 and 4. The single belt extends from onegroup to the other on the circumference.

The pins 3 are arranged on the member 1 in groups,-preferably in twogroups extending approximately for a quarter of the circumference asindicated by the parts 6. The intervening spaces 7 between the parts 6and which are preferably slightly more than a quarter of thecircumference, extend between the groups, these spaces being free of theother obstructions or pins to permit of the removal of the groups ofpins 4 through the spaces 7. The member 2 has the pins 4 similarlyarranged in groups, the pins 4 occupying approximately a quarter of thecircumference as indicated 'by the parts 8 in Fig. 2. The spaces 9 arearranged between the groups.

The parts are assembled as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the groupof pins 4 being arranged adjacent to the pins 3 and the interlockingmember 5 being interlaced between the pins of each group, and extendingacross from one group to the other. When it is desirable to remove oneof the members, the interlocking member is unlaced at 5a, and removedfrom the pins. The members are then rotated relatively to each other,one quarter of a revolution, bringing the groups of pins 4 into thespaces 7 and the spaces 9 opposite the pins 3. The member can then beremoved in a direction directly at right angles to the axis of themember, the group of pins 4 passing through the spaces 7.

By using an interlocking member in the form of a belt of greater widththan the spaces between the ends of the pins, and the opposing member,pins of cylindrical shape may be used without danger of disengagement ofthe locking member from the pins. Such an interlocking member is verydesirable as it can be readily put in place, and removed. The spacesbetween the groups also form such a span in the interlocking member asto make it possible to readily apply the usual tools for uniting theends ot the belts for uniting the interlocking member.

hat I claim as new is: l. In a coupling, the combination ot a drivingmember; adriven member; groups j of pins extending from said membersthrough the same plane betweenv the members, there being vacant spacesbetween the groups, each group on the members occupying less space thana vacant space on the other member to .permit of the lateraldisplacement of one of the members relatively to the other, said pinsbeing at different distances from the axis of the coupling to permit thepins on one member to swing past the vpins on the other member to bringthe groups ot' pins into the vacant spaces, and the groups on one memberbeing normally in juxtaposition with companion groups on the othermember; and a flexible member interlaced on said pins by extending backand forth between the pins of a group on one member and the pins of agroup on the other member in juxtaposition.

2. In a coupling, the combination of a driving member; a driven member;groups of pins extending from said members through the same planebetween the members, each group on the members occupying less space thana vacant space on the other member to permit of the lateral displacementof one of the members relatively to the other, said pins being atdiiierent distances from the axis of the coupling to permit the pins onone member to swing past the pins on the other member to bring thegroups of pins into the vacant spaces, and the groups of one memberbeing normally in juxtaposition with companion groups on the othermember; and al flexible member interlaced on said pins, extending backand forth between the pins in a group of one member and the pins of agroup on the other member in juxtaposition, said `flexiblememberextending from one pair of groups to another pair of groups, thepairs of groups being formed by one group on one member and anothergroup on the other member.

3. In a coupling, the combination of a driving member; a driven member;groups of pins extending from said members through the same ,planebetween the members, there being vacant spaces between the groups, eachgroup on the members occupying less space than a vacant space on theother member to permit of the lateral displacement of one of the membersrelatively to the other, said pins being at different distances from theaxis of the coupling to permit` the pins on one member to swing past thefpins on the other member to bring the groups of pins into the vacantspaces, and the groups on one member being normally in juxtapositionwith companion groups on the other member; and a iexible memberinterlaced on said pins, by extending back and forth between pins in agroup ot one member and the pins of a group on the other member injuxtaposition, said flexible member being in the form of a belt andextending from one group to another on 'the same member, said beltbeing` joined in the space between the groups.

In testimony whereof, I have `hereunto set my hand in the rpresence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK O. BALL.

IVitnesses:

F. H. BALL, Roer. T. BRAMPTON.

